Patent GB-1264571-A (GB)
IPC: G03B17/53
Filed: 1970-02-23
Abstract: 1,264,571. Conveyers. W. G. ALLEN. 23 Feb., 1970 [26 Feb., 1969], No. 8466/70. Heading B8A. [Also in Division G2] Apparatus 10 for processing colour film strip 41 used with a coin-operated camera 44 includes film carriers 65 which are moved along a main bar 67 by lead screws 68, 69 and along a return and storage bar 70 by a reversible chain drive 214, devices 71, 72 at each end of the apparatus being provided for transferring the carriers 65 between the bars 67, 70. An exposed portion of film is severed, for feeding into a film holder 79, by a reciprocating knife 53. Each carrier 65 has a lug 104 which engages the screw 68 when the carrier is in the " film lowered " position (full line), Fig. 7, and a lug 105 which engages the screw 69 when in the " film-raised " position (phantom line). The screw 68 comprises a number of sections of differing pitches for feeding film holders 79 at different rates through tanks containing processing liquids, the sections being interchangeably mounted. The screw 69 is similarly assembled. Agitation of the holders 79 during their passage through the tanks is provided by eccentric mounting of the screw 68 in its bearings. To rotate the carriers 65 between their two angularly spaced positions (see Figs. 2, 7) a number of split sleeves 120 are adjustably secured on a bar 117 and have abutments 118 engageable with plungers 112 provided on the carriers. The bar 117 is moved between the two positions shown by a double-acting fluid-powered cylinder 121. Towards the end of its movement for raising the film holders 79 the bar 117, by control of the cylinder 121, is given a rapid motion which shakes the holders and dislodges any drops of liquid. The return and storage bar 70 is provided at each end with a gap to enable the carriers 65 to be transferred to and from the bar. To minimize resistance to movement of the carriers along the bar, rollers 154 on the carrier plungers 112 engage a track 157 provided on the bar. The carriers are transferred one by one from the storage bar 70 to the main bar 67 by the transfer device 71 comprising an arm 159 pivoted at 160 and actuated by a fluid-powered cylinder 167. The arm, at its free end, has a saddle 163 whose slot is able to pass over the reduced diameter of the main bar 67 and whose outer diameter corresponds to that of the main bar 67. The device 72, similar to the device 71, is used to transfer the carriers from the main bar 67 to the storage bar 70. During transfer of a carrier from the bar 67 to the bar 70 the film strip is removed from its holder 79 by opposing endless belts (210, 221), Fig. 20 (not shown). The endless chain drive 214 includes a pin 220 which engages the right ends of the carriers 65 to move a number, e.g. ten or more, of the carriers towards the transfer device 71. As each carrier passes on to the device 71 the drive to the chain 214 is reversed and the pin returned to its start position. The operation, after initiation by a coin mechanism 55, is automatically controlled by an electric system, Fig. 28 (not shown), cooperating with a pneumatic system, Fig. 25 (not shown). Tank details.-To minimize excessive exposure to air of chemicals such as developers, the tank shown in Fig. 4 is provided with insets 277, 278 which limit aeration and increase the useful life of the liquid. When the chemicals are to be renewed, a cover (292) is latched on to a tank unit, Fig. 22 (not shown), and the unit pulled clear of the apparatus on a roller-supported slide 284, Fig. 3. The unit is then lifted clear of a temperature-controlling jacket 66 and replaced with a similar unit containing fresh chemicals. In a modification, Figs. 29, 30 (not shown), the capacity of the apparatus is increased by a further processing row substantially above the first row. There is provision for moving the carriers from one row of tanks to the other and there may be a third level for processing.